Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92180 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92180 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
“Want in?” he asks as he walks down to pick up his beanbags.
“I’m good.” I look back at the play set, see my kids are still alive, and Kiera is still hovering.
“Drake,” Hendrix says, nodding to the brunette on his arm. “This is my girlfriend, Tracy.”
I nod at her as she makes no move to unlatch herself from Hendrix’s arm to shake hands. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too,” she says, then leans into Hendrix. “I’m bored. Can we go do something else?”
Poor dude… Hendrix flushes because he’s thinking what we’re all thinking—that was pretty damn self-centered. But he’s the one who committed to monogamy, so he’s going to have to figure out if he latched himself to the right woman.
Reaching out a hand, I take the beanbags from Hendrix. “I’ll take your place, man.”
“Thanks,” he mutters and then lets Tracy lead him away.
“Damn, she’s a bitch,” Nolan says as he glances after Hendrix.
“Pussy must be magic or something,” Kirill says as he moves up for his turn. He tosses and nails every shot. As he walks to retrieve his bags, he asks, “What’s the deal with your sister?”
“There is no deal with my sister,” I reply as I set my beer on a nearby table and move to the line. “She’s fucking off-limits to everyone on this team, and if I so much as see anyone looking at her in any way, I’ll pound them into the ground.”
“Seriously?” Kirill asks while the other guys snicker.
“Dead serious. As in, you’ll be dead.”
“But I’m a nice guy,” Kirill says with his arms outstretched. “I’m your teammate. Who better than—”
I roll my eyes before concentrating on my target. “You just hypothesized that Hendrix’s girl’s pussy is magic. You think I want you thinking about my sister like that?”
“That was because I have no respect for Hendrix’s girlfriend,” Kirill argues. “She leads him by the hairs on his balls.”
Camden snorts. “That’s true. She’s got a firm hold on the wrinklies.”
I launch my beanbags and miss all three. I absorb a good deal of ribbing from the guys, but there’s no further talk about Kiera. I glance over at her periodically. A few of the wives talk to her, but she seems pretty intent on the kids.
After I finish the game, I walk around, talking to various players. The season is still so new and there are many guys I don’t know much about. But I’m committed to becoming a solid part of this new family.
Grabbing my second beer from the ice tub, I run into Gage doing the same.
“What’s up, man?” he says, twisting off the cap.
“Not much.” I look to the play set where Kiera’s bent over tying Tanner’s shoe. Jake is at the top of the rock wall, and one of his feet slip, then the other goes right after. He clings to the top, legs scrabbling to find purchase. If Kiera had been watching, she would’ve darted to save him.
I just watch and let the pride swell when I see him calmly find a foothold and propel himself over the top.
I glance back at Gage, and he’s silently scanning the backyard.
It’s weird he’s being quiet.
To the extent it’s awkward.
And then it hits me. Jenna caught Brienne and me in a compromising situation, and Jenna and Gage are together. He probably wants to broach the subject—I’m sure to give warning—and doesn’t know how.
I don’t like beating around the bush, so I say, “If you need to say something about me and Brienne, just spit it out.”
Gage spins my way and frowns. “You and Brienne? What do you mean?”
“Fuck,” I mutter. “I assumed Jenna told you.”
“Told me what?”
“Never mind. Forget it.”
I start to walk away, but Gage steps into my path. “Oh, no you don’t. You just implied that something happened between you and the owner of this team that obviously my girlfriend knows about but didn’t tell me, and I wouldn’t expect her to if it’s a secret. But you were clearly ready to discuss it, so spill it.”
Standing near the beer tub isn’t the most private place to talk, so I jerk my head and Gage follows me over to a quiet area of the backyard.
And I proceed to tell him everything, minus the dirty bits.
“Dude,” is all he says.
“I get it’s wrong, but honestly, this isn’t really going anywhere. It’s just a fling.”
“If it’s just a fling, you would never have told me the details.”
“Whatever,” I mutter before taking a long pull from my beer. “It’s nothing anyone needs to worry about.”
“I’m not worried,” Gage replies. “And I don’t think you’re doing anything wrong. There’s no specific rule about the owner of the team.”
“I know. I’ve checked.”
Gage lobs a knowing smile that I ignore. “There are guidelines about disclosing personal relationships within the organization to make sure there’s no special allowances made. Like Jenna and I—we’re not in the same area, so it doesn’t really matter. Our jobs don’t affect each other.”